The first Video released to introduce Trails in National Parks

11/14/17

Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland experiments with trail videos to introduce trails for first time visitors to national parks. The first video release showcases a popular mountain biking trail in and nearby Syöte National Park.

The trail video visualizes the challenges, services and experiences of the trail more efficiently than any other media today. The customer journey from trailhead to the finish point sets the story in the video, making it very easy to evaluate the suitability of the trail experience.

In future Parks & Wildlife Finland is planning to produce more trail videos from popular destinations to describe the trail features. The aim is to help visitors in planning successful and safe trips to the natural wonders of Finland.

National Park Bringing New Feeling of Optimism to Hossa

by Fran Weaver, August 2017

The opening in June 2017 of Finland's 40th national park at Hossa, to mark the centenary of the Finland's independence, has been a great boost for local entrepreneurs offering services related to nature tourism and outdoor recreation. New jobs and income are very welcome in this part of Finland's north-eastern borderlands, between the towns of Kuusamo and Suomussalmi.

Local firms are already providing a wider range of services for increasing numbers of visitors with different interests. The small family firm Hossan Lumo, run by locally born Maija Daly and her Irish husband Lenny Daly, rents out equipment including fat tyre mountain bikes, kayaks and SUP-boards, while also offering cosy cabin accommodation and lovely lakeside locations for tents and caravans.

Lenny Daly feels that Hossa provides ideal settings for many popular outdoor pursuits. "Hossa's clear blue lakes are great for paddling, and Finland is now also catching on to the international boom in SUP-boarding," he says. "The trails along Hossa's sandy ridges are likewise ideal for mountain biking or hiking."

Maija Daly believes that especially for foreign visitors, Hossa's new status as a national park makes it much more attractive than its previous designation as a hiking area.

"There's a new feeling of optimism as interest in Hossa increases, and people are getting keen to branch out and start new businesses and activities."